Soriano sends defiant message behind closed doors
Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano has directly challenged one of the most damaging verdicts in the club’s history in a video intended for employees and players.
According to Sky Sports, which obtained the leaked recording, Soriano told those inside the club that City would continue fighting to clear its name after being found guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial rules. He characterised the case as resting on a “single false accusation” and referred to the underlying allegation as a “Premier League conspiracy theory”.
The accusation Soriano disputes is that money linked to Manchester City’s owner was channelled into the club through sponsorship agreements and presented as genuine commercial revenue. Soriano said City possesses bank records, transfer documentation and witness evidence which, in the club’s view, demonstrates that the relevant money did not originate from the owner.
His message was unequivocal: City believe the independent commission has reached the wrong conclusion and intend to pursue an appeal.
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Independent commission reached the opposite conclusion
That position is difficult to reconcile with the findings published a matter of hours earlier.
According to the Premier League’s official statement on the case, an independent commission found Manchester City guilty of all charges relating to serious financial breaches across nine seasons between 2009-10 and 2017-18. It also upheld three of the four alleged breaches concerning City’s duty to cooperate with the league’s investigation.
The commission concluded that City used “sham” contracts with commercial partners as part of arrangements that misrepresented the true financial agreements involved. Sky Sports reported that the commission found the sponsorship scheme artificially inflated City’s revenues by approximately £830 million, while separate arrangements also reduced costs recorded in the club’s accounts.
It also concluded that City filed misstated accounts, concealed the true state of its finances from auditors and regulators and significantly breached Premier League and UEFA spending limits. Most seriously for the club’s defence, the commission stated that City had made “concerted efforts” to frustrate the Premier League investigation.
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City turn verdict into battle over credibility
That leaves two completely opposing versions of events.
The independent commission says City systematically circumvented financial rules. Soriano, addressing his own employees and players, says the case is based on a false premise and evidence capable of disproving it has been ignored or incorrectly assessed.
The language matters. Calling the central case a “conspiracy theory” immediately after an independent body has ruled against the club represents far more than a routine statement of disagreement. It signals that City are preparing to attack not only individual conclusions but the credibility of the case built against them.
It also creates an extraordinary public confrontation between one of English football’s most powerful clubs and its domestic competition.
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City insist they will be vindicated
Manchester City have maintained the same position publicly. In the club’s official response to the decision, City said they are innocent and claimed a comprehensive body of evidence supports their case. The club also said the opinion contains material errors of law, principle and fact and confirmed that it will pursue the available appeal routes.
There is one important distinction. City’s statement repeatedly refers to a “Premier League Commission”, but the body that reached the verdict is an independent commission appointed under Premier League rules. Sky Sports also highlighted that distinction when reporting the club’s response.
The eventual sanction has not yet been determined, and City’s appeal means the dispute is far from complete. But Soriano’s leaked message makes one thing clear: Manchester City are not preparing to quietly accept the verdict.
They are preparing for another fight.
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